1. Determine whether the parabola opens upward or downward.
a. If a > 0, it opens upward.
b. If a < 0, it opens downward.
2. Determine the vertex.
a. The x-coordinate is .
b. The y-coordinate is found by substituting the x-coordinate, from Step 2a, in the equation y = ax2 + bx + c.
3. Determine the y-intercept by setting x = 0.
4. Determine the x-intercepts (if any) by setting y = 0, i.e., solving the equation
ax^2 + bx + c = 0.
5. Determine two or three other points if there are no x-intercepts.
Graphing the parabola is connect to the other topics by... *The vertex form has the vertex in it so it is easy to graph,
*Writing the equation of the parabola makes it easy to graoh also,
*Vertex to the Standard form, the eqations are equal so the graph will be equal.
*You would rather graph in vertex for becaue the vertex form is already given.
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Graphing the Parabola y = ax^2 + bx + c
1. Determine whether the parabola opens upward or downward.
a. If a > 0, it opens upward.
b. If a < 0, it opens downward.
2. Determine the vertex.
a. The x-coordinate is
b. The y-coordinate is found by substituting the x-coordinate, from Step 2a, in the equation y = ax2 + bx + c.
3. Determine the y-intercept by setting x = 0.
4. Determine the x-intercepts (if any) by setting y = 0, i.e., solving the equation
ax^2 + bx + c = 0.
5. Determine two or three other points if there are no x-intercepts.
Graphing the parabola is connect to the other topics by...
*The vertex form has the vertex in it so it is easy to graph,
*Writing the equation of the parabola makes it easy to graoh also,
*Vertex to the Standard form, the eqations are equal so the graph will be equal.
*You would rather graph in vertex for becaue the vertex form is already given.